A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Jose vs. Panama City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Jose or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Panama City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Jose or Panama City?

San Jose

San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is likely to be your first and last stop in a visit to the country. The city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making for a beautiful flight in. The city has an elevation of 1200 meters and sits on a plateau with a beautiful backdrop of lush green forest. Half of the people in Costa Rica reside in the country's capital city. You are likely to stay only a day or two, but there are a handful of things to do and see including museums and markets. You will also find many embassies, as well as the University of Costa Rica in San Jose.

Panama City

Panama City is the cosmopolitan capital city of the country of Panama. With a population of almost 900,000 and almost 1.5 million in the metropolitan area, it's a very diverse city with expat residents from all over the world. You don't have to search far to find someone who speaks English, and many Panamanians are quite helpful and friendly.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or San Jose?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $103, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $101. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Jose and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Jose $49
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Jose $98
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Panama City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in San Jose


Hotels in Panama City


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Jose Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Jose $19
    Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:


  • Taxi from SJO
    $25
  • Local Bus
    $2.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose

Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
  • Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $297
  • Private Transfer SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo and Cahuita Hotels: $295
  • Transfer one way from San Jose or Airport to Hotel RIU Guanacaste : $295
  • Private Transfer SJO Airport to Liberia Guanacaste Hotels Nearby: $295
  • One-Way Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Uvita or Dominical: $290
  • Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $280
  • Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
  • Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
  • Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Monteverde: $270

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers from Tocumen Int. Airport to Panama City: $30
  • Transfer to Panama City, Hotel and City tour - 1 night: $266
  • Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
  • Transfer in private minivan from Playa Bonita to Panama Tocumen Airport: $70
  • Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
  • Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Transfer from Panama Airport to Colon Cruise Terminal: $110
  • Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
  • Transfer Tocumen Airport to Hotel Westin or Dreams Playa Bonita: $68
  • Transfer Panama Airport, Amador Cruise Terminal: $35
  • Transfer Amador Cruise Terminal-Airport or City Hotel: $35
  • Transfer Airport-City Hotel and Beach Hotel, Tours 5hrs Panama: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and San Jose change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Jose $31
    Panama City $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Jose

For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour visit Markets: $34
  • Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
  • San Jose By Night tour Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $59
  • Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum : $65
  • Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
  • Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
  • Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $99
  • Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:


  • Sandwich
    $8.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Panama City

For Panama City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • Embera Village Cooking Class with Gatun Lake Boat Safari: $105
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $125
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Jose $21
    Panama City $66

Tours and Activities in San Jose

For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Poas Volcano National Park Tour and Bird watching in Costa Rica: $166
  • Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
  • 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
  • 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
  • A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
  • Adventure Park: $185
  • Airtime Zipline Adventure in Arenal: $60
  • Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
  • Arenal Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $295
  • Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
  • Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
  • Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • Canopy-ziplining Adventures in Anton Valley: $195
  • Panama a quick and memorable tour: $80
  • Private Layover Panama Canal Locks Center & City Tour: $64
  • #1 Walking Tour of Casco Viejo Panama with Lunch included : $70
  • “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $34
  • "Panama Tour: Canal, Old Town, Amador, and Americas Lookout": $145
  • 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
  • 3 1/2 Hour Experience of Lake Gatun in Panama: $95
  • 3 Hour Airport Tour from Tocumen: $125
  • 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City: $45
  • 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
  • 5-hour tour in Panama by a Local Guide: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Jose $16
    Panama City $18

Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:

  • Exclusive Pub Crawl in San Jose : $35
  • Wine Tour and Tasting: $85
  • Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100


When comparing the travel costs between San Jose and Panama City, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Jose Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Jose or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Panama City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.